New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI at Napier, IND in NZ, Jan 23 2019 - Match Result

That's all we have for you. Thanks for your company. From Varun and I, it's buh-bye. #RhymesFTW

"It was one of our more balanced performances in the last few games. When I lost the toss, I thought it was going to be 300 par. One-fifty-odd on that wicket was superb," says Virat Kohli. "The fast bowling group together believe they can knock any side over. And the belief in his own ability and his fitness - this is the fittest I've seen him in his career. And his Test form has translated into one-day cricket. The pitch got slow in the second half of the innings but in the first half the spinners bowled well, cramped the batsmen and they still made it difficult despite the dimesions on the field. Very important innings for Dhawan. We spoke about how he needed to finish games for India, to keep his confidence and if he's in that mindset, he can be a great asset. Never had that happen. 2014, I got out once with the sun in my eyes and this rule wasn't there then"

"It wasn't our best effort. We expected INdia to be good and they were very good. It wasn't the traditional surface here. But it wasn't hard. We just had to get through the slower balls but I do think their lengths were immaculate. Obviously 150 on the board on a surface where 250 was par was hard," Kane Williamson says. "Sometimes it helps [break between playing]. It was lack of adjusting to the surface. Sometimes you come here and think it's 350-plus. This one needed a bit more graft. All the Indian bowlers contributed but we do need to be better. I do think our energy in the field and with the ball was good though and we need to move on from this game quickly"

"Success boils down to the hard work by the team on the whole. And we always have plans for players. Plan A, Plan B. We can go from one to the next," Mohammed Shami, the Man of the Match says. "Coming back from injury, we have good facilities provided to us. It changed things for me a bit. It was big blow. For the next 18 months I was in rehab. I trained really hard and when I came into the team, everyone backed me, the management, the captain and so I was able to push my limits, keep getting fitter and fitter. Slight changes in conditions. Grounds are bigger in Australia. Looking a tthe last series we played here, it was important to figure out where to bowl her depending on those dimensions"

9.37 pm India win by roughly a truckload of wickets and overs to spare. (It's eight and 14.1, but who cares?) They made excellent use of the new ball with Mohammed Shami striking twice in his opening spell (two maidens in those four overs too) and the wristspinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav giving them no place to hide thereafter. There were very few complications in the case - the target was only 158 after all - barring that little sun-stopped-play incident (seriously, read all about it) - as Shikhar Dhawan struck his first fifty-plus score in nine ODI innings.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, after missing a fifty, and the chance to average 60 in ODIs, is taking a ride on a segway. Possibly borrowed it from one of the cameramen. And Dhoni steals it off him. Then Kohli takes it back, dancing on it to prove his superiority. It's all happening.

Hitesh : "Wither Guptill or Munro has to go, need stability at the top for NZ. Top order needs to set a platform not expecting next drop to come in so soon."

Jiten Surtani: "Goodluck with explaining to a new person how India win after scoring 156 after New Zealand scored 157 !" Just say DLS. If they ask you to explain, shrug your shoulders and say Deee Elll Yesss.

Sukhbir Singh: "I think what's happening with Rayudu is somewhat similar to what happened with MSD in first game, I think this innning can help him in performing better in next innings."

PS - Rayudu might have been out second ball, having nicked a short ball through to the keeper. NZ didn't appeal though.

Purvesh: "I have never seen someone so out of touch as Rayudu in the last few days. He is a liability on the field. With him now barred from bowling, there is no logic keeping him in the team. There are sure better batsmen in the hut than him. How good would India be if they had 2 Kohlis! Shubman has already shown enough talent & temperament since he came to the scene."